Keller Williams Realty International, an Austin, Texas, firm that's the fourth largest real estate company in the United States, has expanded into the region.

Keller Williams Realty Capital District has already signed up more than 75 agents, with a goal of at least 100 in the first three months, said Willie Miranda, the operating principal.

Miranda has teamed up with two other local brokers, Dawn McCurdy and Marc Weiss, to share ownership in the brokerage. Miranda has a 51 percent stake in the venture.

The five-year agreement with Keller Williams took effect June 1.

Miranda, who opened his real estate agency--Miranda Real Estate Group Inc.--in Clifton Park five years ago, said he will brand himself as "Willie Miranda of Keller Williams Realty," a move he said will provide exposure to more buyers and sellers by tapping into a nationwide network.

"At Keller Williams they really focus on branding the agent because they feel the agent and the relationships they have is what makes them successful," Miranda said.

The fact that Keller Williams is headquartered in Austin, a high-technology hub that has seen a migration of some jobs to Albany through the Sematech consortium, wasn't a major factor in the decision to open a branch in the Capital Region.

Mike Brodie, executive vice president at Keller Williams in Austin, said the housing market in Albany is "very solid" because it's the state capital.

The nationwide slowdown has affected Albany, with fewer single-family homes sold compared to last year and lower rates of price appreciation, but the area hasn't experienced the sharp declines of other parts of the country.

"We believe we bring an alternative business model to real estate in Albany which will be attractive to many," Brodie said.

The annual franchise fee is 6 percent of an agent's gross commission income, compared with 8 percent to 8.5 percent at other firms, Miranda said. The fee is capped at $3,000; many other companies don't have a cap.

Agents keep 70 percent of their commissions with Keller Williams. After reaching $24,000, agents keep all of the commission for the year.

Founded in 1984, Keller Williams has 77,000 agents in more than 600 offices in the United States and Canada, with a net growth of 1,500 to 2,000 every month.